Hudson Valley GOP Rep. Mike Lawler became the second New York lawmaker this week to have his district office vandalized in response to his support for Israel after Rep. South Bronx Democrat Ritchie Torres had a vandalism incident involving a “bloody” Jesus doll.
“Yesterday the front entrance of our district office building was defaced with messages attacking me because of my support for Israel,” Lawler, 37, aired on Thursdays at Xshared an image of a sticker scrawled with nicknames including “CHILD KILLER.”
The message also read “BLOOD ON MIKE LAWLER’S HANDS,” “GAZA IS HALF CHILDREN,” “25,000+ KILLED” and “CASE SHOOT.”
“I will not be afraid & I will not waver from supporting our greatest allies as they fight to end Hamas terrorism once & for all & save their people,” the new congressman added.
GOP Rep. Mike Lawler became the second New York lawmaker to have his district office tainted this week for pro-Israel views after Rep. Democrat Ritchie Torres had an incident of vandalism. AP “Yesterday the front entrance of our district office building was defaced with messages attacking me for my support of Israel,” Lawler wrote Thursday at X. X/@RepMikeLawler
A spokesman for the New York Republican said the vandals damaged his Pearl River office, one of two he maintains in the 17th Congressional District.
Lawler also told The Post that his office “continues to receive emails, social media messages, voicemails that certainly question my position in Israel” but that he is “not currently concerned about it escalating to physical violence.”
“But I don’t think there’s any question you’ve seen a clear increase in the tactics used by these pro-Hamas supporters and really just the vile antisemitism that’s been going on across the country,” he added.
The message also read “BLOOD ON MIKE LAWLER’S HANDS,” “GAZA IS HALF CHILDREN,” “25,000+ KILLED” and “CASE SHOOT.” X/@RepMikeLawler
“You can see inside – the Democratic Party is fragmenting, and especially young people, people on college campuses, are getting involved in, you know, pro-Hamas tendencies.”
Polls show Democratic support for Israel has declined as the war between the Jewish state and Hamas approaches the three-month anniversary of the Oct. 7 terror attacks that killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, including at least 33 US citizens.
“As I have said repeatedly, I want the Palestinian people to be free. I want them to be free from their oppressors, which is Hamas, a terrorist organization that has been the ruling body in Gaza for almost two decades and has used the Palestinians as human shields,” Lawler stressed. “That many of these people are not bothered by it is surprising.”
In a December 26 interview with CNN, Torres went on to express “concern that threats and incitement to hatred can easily escalate into violence” regarding the Israel-Hamas war. Robert Miller
The Israel Defense Forces have killed more than 21,000 Palestinians through bombings and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, a densely populated urban area.
The death toll, reported by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, did not distinguish between civilian and terrorist deaths, but a senior Israeli military official previously confirmed that about two civilians had been killed for every Hamas terrorist killed.
Reports have indicated that Hamas operates and stores weapons in public infrastructure such as mosques, hospitals and schools – the latter receiving US funding through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
“As I have said repeatedly, I want the Palestinian people to be free. I want them to be free from their oppressors, which is Hamas, a terrorist organization,” stressed Lawler. CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images
“I have pushed for a new hearing on UNRWA, as well as stripping them of all US tax dollars,” Lawler said. “I don’t believe UNRWA should receive a cent from the United States. There is no question that they have misused funds and that they have, in many respects, a working relationship with Hamas.”
The House Foreign Affairs Committee is expected to launch an inquiry into the UN organization in the coming weeks, The Post reported, as the lower house must also consult with the Senate on further military aid to Israel.
The House passed a stand-alone $14.3 billion aid bill for Israel in November, but talks broke down between Senate Republicans and Democrats as they sought to include the aid in a larger $110 billion package with funding for Ukraine, Taiwan and US border security.
Lawler insisted that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) should not delay military aid funding any longer and that “the threat from Hamas must be eliminated.” CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images
Lawler insisted that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) should not delay military aid funding any longer and that “the threat from Hamas must be eliminated.”
“Over the last 15 years, there have been eight ceasefires – each time violated by Hamas,” Lawler said. “Obviously, long-term, I would like to see a two-state solution, but that can only happen if the Palestinians recognize Israel’s right to exist, and if they recognize the threat posed by Hamas.”
The congressman added that “pro-Hamas activists” had also “targeted and tried to harass” him and Torres during a recent event held at the 92nd Street Y, demanding the two advocate for an immediate ceasefire from Israel.
The congressman added that “pro-Hamas activists” had also “targeted and attempted to harass” him and Torres during a recent event held at the 92nd Street Y, demanding an immediate ceasefire. CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images
“But as I said there and as I’ve said over and over again, if we want a ceasefire, there’s a very simple way for a ceasefire to happen: Hamas has to surrender,” Lawler said. “The fact that none of them called on Hamas to surrender speaks volumes for where their sympathies lie.”
Torres, 35, said “anti-Israel extremists” also vandalized his Bronx district office on Christmas Day, using blood-red paint to deface a doll representing Jesus Christ.
“Covered in ‘blood’ is a doll meant to represent Jesus, described by vandals as the ‘Palestinian child Messiah,’” Torres posted on X, sharing an image of the damage.
Torres, 35, said “anti-Israel extremists” also vandalized his Bronx district office on Christmas Day, using blood-red paint to deface a doll representing Jesus Christ. X/Ritchie Torres
“The increase in threats and incitement against Members of Congress feels like it is heading in a dangerous direction. I, for one, will not be intimidated.”
In a December 26 interview with CNN, Torres further warned that “intimidation and incitement to hatred can easily escalate into violence.”
“Most members of Congress, like me, have no security. We are a soft target,” said Torres. “And I’m concerned that, you know, a violent attack or even an assassination of a member of Congress is not a question of ‘if’, it’s a question of ‘when’.”
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
